Buganda demands Shs 10bn from Unra — land board boss

The Buganda Land Board wrote to the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) commission of inquiry raising concerns on land compensation.

The board noted that the Kabaka has never been compensated since the inception of Unra and that they demand nearly Shs 10 billion for Unra’s failure to pay the Kabaka. This prompted the commission to ask the Buganda Land Board chief executive officer, David Kyewalabye Male, to re-appear at the inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, has commissioners Patrick Rusongoza, Abraham Nkata, Ben Okello Luwum and Richard Mongati, with Andrew Kasirye as lead counsel. ZAHRA ABIGABA brings you excerpts from the proceedings:

Kasirye: What is your name?

Kyewalabye: I am David Kyewalabye Male.

Kasirye: How old are you?

Kyewalabye: I am 46 years old.

Kasirye: What do you do for a living?

Kyewalabye: I work as the chief executive officer of the Buganda Land Board.

Kasirye: When did you join the Buganda Land Board?

Kyewalabye: Since February 2007.

Kasirye: What is the Buganda Land Board?

Kyewalabye: The Buganda Land Board is a company mandated with the management of all the land vested in his royal highness the Kabaka of Buganda. This mandate includes the collection of all rental and related income accruing from the use of the Kabaka’s land, including compensation by the state and related organs or bodies.

Kasirye: What are the complaints you are bringing on behalf of the Kabaka and the Buganda Land Board against the Uganda National Roads Authority?

Kyewalabye: Our complaint as the Buganda Land Board on behalf of the Kabaka is with regard to the failure and the refusal by Unra to provide the Kabaka with compensation for the use and acquisition of large tracts of land in spite of various demands and reminders to pay. My lord, what puzzles us is that leasehold tenants and bibanja tenants continue to be compensated while the Kabaka is completely ignored.

Kasirye: Do you know the roads /areas affected and Unra never compensated?

Kyewalabye: The areas include Kibuye-Entebbe phase 2 which was completed in 1998 but up-to-date we have not seen any attempts at payment for Kibuye-Zzana (a 5km stretch), Kampala Northern bypass, Masanafu-Bukalagi-Namungona-Kasubi; all these have not been compensated yet works are going on. Then we have got the Entebbe expressway, which also includes the Munyonyo spur, Kigo, Lunya, Buggu-Kibiri-Kirindi and Mutungo, Mpigi-Maddu, Sembabule road, Lukalu B, Kiriti Sabwe hill, Kabasanda, Mirembe and Ngomanene villages. Mukono-Kyetume [the famous Katosi road], Kisoga-Nyenga road and the affected areas include Kiyola, Katosi central and Kiwologoma villages.

Kasirye: Are there any other complaints you have to table before the commission?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord. There are titles given to third parties on the Kabaka’s land without going through the normal process and the areas affected are Munyonyo block 255 and plot 98. The Uganda land commission issued these titles [but] they were fraudulently acquired.

Kasirye: What does that particular road have to do with Unra?

Kyewalabye: The claimants at Munyonyo road have already contacted Unra with their fake titles and compensation is done. Again, the same block 93 where the Catholic shrine is, Mr Obey got the titles on the same piece of land and claims have been passed on to Unra and Unra seems to have recognised it and we are asking for the titles to be recalled and cancelled.

We, therefore, request the commission to go on with the investigations and verify all titles issued on this land before any payments are being made. Otherwise, we will suffer irrecoverable damages if these dubious payments are made at our own expense. And our humble prayer to the commission is that, ‘make all necessary recommendations to enable the payments of all dues that are by law ours.’

Kasirye: Is there any other thing you would like to add?

Kyewalabye: The issue with Kampala northern bypass, Unra took titles and has not returned them. Unfortunately, the Kabaka’s land titles comprise huge chunks of land, like 300-600 acres of land. Unra takes land titles and takes ages without returning them and this affects other tenants on the Kabaka’s land.

Kasirye: Do you know how much Unra is supposed to pay Buganda Land Board?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord. It is close to Shs 10 billion.

Kasirye: And do you know the acreage of land to be compensated?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord. It is close to 70 acres of land. And if Unra fails to pay the Buganda Land Board in the given time we have given them, then the matter will be taken to court.

Mongati: Mr Kyewalabye, I just want clarification. The normal procedure is that when they are paying kibanja owners, the mailo owner or superior owner must approve. Has this been done?

Kyewalabye: In some cases, my lord, but not all.

Mongati: So, are you saying that bibanja owners have been paid sometimes without the consent of the owner?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord.

Mongati: Do you know these cases?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord. We have evidence, for instance on the Mpigi-Maddu road, but I think they are quite a number of them.

Nkata: Is the Kabaka’s land, wherever it is available, well demarcated? Are there maps and plans one can see?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord. We have titles and in some areas the boundaries have been opened, but various consultants have been involved in these processes. They know how best you can arrive at this.

Nkata: For the interest of the general public, do people know where the Kabaka’s land starts and stops, especially in the central region?

Kyewalabye: Yes, my lord, they do.

Nkata: Soon Salama road is going to be worked on and I am aware that there are multiple land tenures on that road and the issue that has always been contagious is people claiming that they are on Kabaka’s land. Then there are also princesses and royals on that land that claim that it is their land and also landowners. Has this matter been clarified because, as the Munyonyo road will be worked on, this matter is likely to delay the public good because of that unclear demarcation of land? Can you assure the public that this matter has been sorted?

Kyewalabye: Thank you, my lord. As you are aware, the Kabaka is a land title holder, not kibanjas holder; so, once it is titled land, it is very clear with demarcations and we work with land surveyors. And even the various royals who hold land, they are also indicated on the titles and the 1993 Act that invested the land to Kabaka indicates the royals; either it’s the Namasole, Katikkiro, Omulamuzi. But once we have the titles, that is no problem.

We have always requested Unra to work with Buganda Land Board when it comes to Kabaka’s land. The Kabaka is a very big landlord, not somebody who just holds two or three acres of land. We are very committed to this because we are interested parties to the development of this country and, in any case, when these roads are done, the Kabaka benefits more because it uplifts the value of the land.

Bamugemereire: Thank you very much and we appreciate that you have found the commission useful in assisting you to investigate this matter further. We will do our best and I hope that you find the answers.

On January 28, 2015, in a move that may surprise both his admirers and detractors, the Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga announced that Buganda chiefs and other hosts must stop welcoming him to their areas in a manner which should be reserved for the Kabaka. The televised announcement came after more than a year of complaints by Baganda of different walks of life that the Katikkiro was trying to replace centuries-old Baganda cultural institutions and traditions by expanding his powers and responsibilities beyond what the Baganda constitution (Ennono) allows.

Addressing Ssaza (county) and Ggombolola (sub-county) chiefs, at Bulange Mengo, the Katikkiro told them that going forward, they must stop welcoming him in a style that befits the Kabaka. People must stop erecting archways (ebiyitirirwa) for him, prostrating before him and doing other things that should be reserved for welcoming the Kabaka. Speaking in Luganda, Mayiga said, “In the past I have been to many events where I am inappropriately welcomed, although I cannot blame you because of the high excitement you may have. However, you must reserve those types of welcomes for the Kabaka.”

Since he got his job, Mayiga has endured frequent criticism from members of the Buganda royal clan (Abalangira), Baganda youth organizations (Nkoba za Mbogo, BANGAWA and Ffe Buganda Nze Buganda), Baganda groups in Diaspora and many ordinary Baganda who accused him of, among other things, attempting to destroy Buganda’s cultural foundation. The fact that Katikkiro Mayiga has been a key player in several widely unpopular Buganda deals with President Museveni (Regional Tier and MOU) and, recently, the Aga Khan plan to commercialize the Kabaka’s Palace, has widened the divide between the Katikkiro and traditional Baganda of all shades.

One of the most visible and contraversial practices by Katikkiro Mayiga is his use of a large motorcade, with a heavy detail of AK-47 totting Uganda Special Forces soldiers which project military power on his tours around Buganda. And the fact that the tour organizers often erect archways (ebiyitirirwa) and hire boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis) to enhance crowds and excitement. Many traditional Baganda allege that this is clear evidence that Mr. Mayiga is trying to overshadow the Kabaka and isolate him from his people. Mr. Mayiga’s announcement on Wednesday seems to have been directed at addressing this issue.

Notably, one group of people that has consistently stood behind Mr. Mayiga and his programs are certain Kampala traders, money lenders, sports betting operators and local real-estate investors. And for the most part, Mr. Mayiga’s wealthy supporters have helped him raise billions of shillings under his Ettofaali campaign. Even most of his detractors privately admit that Mayiga has done an impressive job in inspiring Baganda to wake up and believe that they do not want to be victims forever. Lately, however, there are signs that both Baganda and other Ugandans are starting to develop Ettofaali fatigue and the awakened Baganda seem to be expecting Katikkiro Mayiga to start delivering from the billions of Shillings that he has collected.

The audio recording below is one example of the many speeches that have been made in protest of Mr. Mayiga’s policies. Ow’ek. Ssewava Sserubiri, former minister in Buganda Government, made that speech in mid-2014, at a party organized by Nkoba za Mbogo student’s organization.

Audio Player

EKIKA NJOVU.

OMUZIRO:NJOVU

AKABBIRO

NVUBU.

OMUTAKA

MUKALO

OBUTAKA

KAMBUGU

Buliji.

ESSAZA

BUSIRO

OMUBALA

Esimbye amasanga, Nakate ajja.

EKIKA MBWA

OMUZIRO:MBWA

AKABBIRO

Kyuuma kye basiba mu Mbwa.

OMUTAKA

MUTASINGWA.

OBUTAKA

KIGGWA

ESSAZA

BUSUJJU.

OMUBALA

Goba Omukazi oleete Embwa.

Arch-Bishop we York, Ebulaya akakasi

zza nti Ssekaba

ka Daniel Mwanga II Basammu

la

Butagali, talagira nga kutta kwa Bishop Hanning

ton omwaka 1888:

Archbishop of York commissions Hannington sanctuary in Busia, Uganda.

L-R: Tororo Catholic Diocese Bishop Emmanuel Obbo, Bukedi Diocese Bishop Simon Bogere Egesa, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, chairperson of the Uganda Judicial Commission Justice James Ogoola and former Bishop of Bukedi Diocese Nikodemus Okille pose in front of a tree in Budimo village, Busia District, where the remains of the bishop were kept for four days during 1888.

PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA

By Henry Lubega

Posted Friday, February 20 2015

Traditional, religious and political leaders in Uganda, Kenya and York in Britain have paid homage to the late Bishop of the Equatorial Africa James Hannington at the Hannington Shrine in Budimo village, Busia District.

Religious leaders led by Archbishop of York John Sentamu, Bishop of Bukedi Diocese Simon Bogere Egesa and Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tororo Emmanuel Obbo among others, attended the function on Wednesday.

For the first time in more than a century, the great grandsons of the chiefs of the two kingdoms where Bishop Hannington was loved and where he was killed, met.

Chief Luba Munulo Juma, the great grandson of chief Luba in whose dominion (Busoga) and on whose orders Hannington was killed, met with chief Peter Mumia II, the great grandson to Paramount chief of the Wanga Kingdom Nabongo Mumia, who had given Hannington porters and guides to Kabaka Mwanga’s palace.

The paramount chief later allowed Bishop Hannington’s remains to be buried in his territory at the cost of his people.

During his visit to the shrine, Archbishop Sentamu commissioned the construction of the administration block of Bishop of York Bible College, Canterbury Square, Hannington Tabernacle Chapel and the York Gardens in Budimo.

Sentamu’s visit was crowned by the ecumenical service conducted by bishops Bogere Egesa and Obbo.

The head of the organising committee, Justice James Ogoola, said Archbishop Sentamu’s visit was not only a religious symbol, but a reconciliation ceremony between the people of Luba in Uganda and their counterparts from Mumias in western Kenya.

“I wanted to reconcile the descendants of the two dramatists in Hannington’s last days. One gave him escorts and guides, the other killed him. The two families met for the first time and I made sure I gave each of them a Lusamia Bible and asked them to shake hands as a sign of reconciliation,” Justice Ogoola, also the chairperson of the Uganda Judicial Commission, said.

The place was first dedicated by then Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey in 1998, as a Hannington shrine.

Chief Luba Munulo Juma in his remarks said: “I don’t feel guilty for what my great grandfather did, the bishop died because of his stubbornness before the cultural leader.”

Chief Peter Mumia II said Bishop Hannington was a Christian not an explorer, killed by those who did not understand him.

More developments

According to Justice Ogoola, plans are also underway to make the shrine a national pilgrimage for Christians to remember Bishop Hannington for his sacrifice for the new Christian faith that had just arrived in the middle of the continent of Africa during 1888.

hlubega@

ug.nationmedia.com

Nantaba wants elderly scheme probed

Outgoing Lands state minister Ida Nantaba (in gomesi) celebrates with the newly elected Kayunga speaker Saleh Balinsoni (2nd left) during the swearing in of district leaders for the Republican government of Uganda May 2016.

PHOTO BY FRED MUZAALE

By Fred Muzaale

Posted Monday, May 30 2016

Kayunga. Outgoing Lands state minister Ida Nantaba has asked the Inspector General of Government to investigate how the outgoing Kayunga District leadership selected beneficiaries of the Senior Citizens Grant given to elderly persons.

Ms Nantaba, who is also the district Woman MP, claims the 100 elderly persons per sub-county in the district were selected based on sectarian and political grounds.

“It hurts me as a leader to find that more than 900 beneficiaries of the senior citizens’ grant in this district all come from the same area and are from almost one tribe. I ask the IGG to take interest in this matter and probe how these beneficiaries were selected,” Ms Nantaba said on Tuesday.

Take oath

This was during the swearing-in of the district LC5 chairperson, Mr Tom Sserwanga, and his councillors at Ntenjeru District headquarters.

The grant, one of the core components of the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment, started in 2010 with financing by government and development partners.

Kayunga is among the districts where the programme will be rolled out during this financial year.

However, the Elderly and Disabled Affairs State minister, Mr Sulaiman Madada, dismissed the claims by Ms Nantaba, saying beneficiaries had been selected on merit.

The former district LC5 chairman, Mr Steven Dagada said: “The selection of beneficiaries was based on age, but also on who is in more need for assistance.”

The government of Uganda has been found guilty of putting a 2009 curfew on the King of the State of Buganda. The case has taken the Ugandan Courts six years to come to an agreed judicial Judgement.

President Yoweri Museveni (L) shaking hands with Buganda king Ronald Mwenda Mutebi at some function.

File photo

By Juliet Kigongo

Posted Saturday, December 19 2015

KAMPALA, UGANDA.

The Constitutional Court has ruled that police was wrong to prevent the Kabaka of Buganda from visiting his subjects in Kayunga district on September 12, 2009.

In a majority ruling of three to two, Justices Remmy Kasule, Egonda–Ntende and Rubby Opio Aweri concurred with the four petitioners, all Buganda kingdom subjects, that it is everyone’s right to move freely, reside or settle in any part of the country. The judges concluded that the Kabaka was exercising his constitutional right of free movement.

“The role of the Uganda Police was to regulate and put in place security measures to ensure that both Baganda and the Banyala who had threatened to demonstrate over the said visit are safe,” the judges noted.

The judges ordered government to pay costs of the case to the petitioners. There is no compesation whatsover for those who lost their lives and property. Mr Edward Lugonvu, Dr Adam Kimala, Mr Charles Ssenkungu and Ms Saida Najjuka. However, two of the judges - Eldard Mwangusya and Prof Lillian Tibatemwa, dissented and agreed with the government that blocking the Kabaka’s visit was to ensure peace because there was imminent chaos.

The Australia country, as a one race country is set to deport two Ugandan African athletes:

October 20, 2018

Written by URN

Weightlifter Kalidi Batuusa was one of the athletes who vanished in Australia

Two Ugandan athletes who disappeared during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia are to be deported.

John Mosco Onyik, the board chairman of the National Council of Sports (NCS) said that the two of the athletes who are under detention by the Australian government will be deported before the end of the year."We have been in contact with the authorities and the two out of the six who run away will be deported soon," Onyik told URN.

Although Onyik refused to disclose the names of the two athletes, the six who vanished during the Games in April this year include; Irene Kasubo and Kalidi Batuusa (weightlifting), Regan Ssimbwa and Nasir Bashir (boxing), Halima Nambozo (table tennis) and cyclist Vienna Ssekanga.

Onyik warned that the government is going to put in place strict measures to sporting associations and federations before their athletes are cleared to travel for international competitions.

Related Stories

When contacted, Beatrice Ayikoru, who was Uganda's chief de mission at the Games, she said she had no information on the two athletes who are reportedly arrested awaiting deportation.

After the Games ended in late April, the Australian Home Affairs minister, Peter Dutton, urged the athletes who stayed back in Australia to present themselves to authorities, and warned they could be deported for breaching visa conditions if they did not "self-declare".

Uganda won three gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games through Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei (2 medals) and Stella Chesang. Mercyline Chelangat also won a bronze medal in athletics and another bronze by boxer Juma Miiro in boxing.

Nb

It is necessary for the Austrialian government to come out and give the reasons why they are deporting these Ugandan African citizens. Australia is leaving in a world of its own different from what the international community is experiencing concerning mass immigration. Third and Second World countries are suffering very much from economic and military civil wars of the kind of the Second World War that happened 1939/45. Australia must wake up to this sort of modern suffering if it wants to have a human face on this planet.

Uganda's Cheptegei wins gold at 2018 Commonwealth Games:

By Joseph Kizza

Added 8th April 2018

Joshua Cheptegei executes a tactical race in the men's 5000m final to win gold and Uganda's first medal at this edition in Gold Coast, Australia.

GOLD COAST 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

DAY FOUR

Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei has won the men's 5000m final, clinching gold and Uganda's first medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

A pre-race favourite, Cheptegei ran a tactical race to burst across the finish line with a winning time of 13:50.83 minutes.

The 21-year-old athlete born in the remote village of Kapsewui in Kapchorwa district did well to put Uganda on the medals table on day four of the widely watched competition.

He beat Mohammed Ahmed of Canada (13:52.78) and Kenya's Edward Pingua Zakayo (13:54.06), who settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

Cheptegei, who is no stranger to heroism on the global stage, started off at the back on the Carrara Stadium track, clearly uninterested in the front pack pace.

But, running alongside fellow countrymen Thomas Ayeko and Phillip Kipyeko, Cheptegei kept the leaders on the corner of his eye.

He did not want to give away too much, and only started to build momentum with about four of the 12-and-a-half laps to go.

Cheptegei eventually took the lead after keeping at the back of the pack for much of the race. (AFP)

Ahmed looked determined to present the Ugandan with some stiff challenge. And he did. But with the final bell going, signalling the final lap, Cheptegei had put on his afterburners.

His Canadian challenger was hot on his heels, but Cheptegei was not to be beaten, racing fiercely and coolly past the finish line to claim yet another gold under keen global watch.

Uganda's other interest in the race Ayeko and Kipyeko finished fourth (13:54.78) and sixth (13:59.59), respectively.

It is eight months since Cheptegei won silver at the IAAF World Championships in London.

In 2014, he stamped his authority on the global scene, winning goldat the World Junior Championships in Eugene, USA and also gold at the World University Cross Country Champhionships.

The Ugandan trio of Ayeko, Cheptegei and Kipyeko. (AFP)

Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, wins gold at World Junior Championships in Eugene, America:

By Vision Reporter

Added 23rd July 2014

Joshua Cheptegei has won Uganda their fourth gold medal at the World Junior championships that started Tuesday in Eugene, America

Joshua Cheptegei has won gold for Uganda at the World Junior championships that started Tuesday in Eugene, America.

The Police runner clocked 28 minutes 32.86 seconds to beat two chasing Kenyans and an Eritrean to win the 10000m event of the World junior meet section after an exciting but slow pace in the wee hours of the morning.

He is the second Ugandan to win a gold emdal over the distance after Boniface Kiprop’s 10000m win in Grosetto, Italy in 2004. Dorcus Inzikuru (2000) and Julius Acon (1994) is the other Ugandan gold medallist.

Favourite before the race because of posting the fastest time this season in the junior category, the Bugema Universality student was cautious from the start, preferring to run behind the Kenyans with the support of his country mate Abdallah Mande.

When early leaders Keisuke Nakatani and Hazuma Hattori from Japan took the lead, he stayed put until Kenya’s Elvis Cheboi decided to take the lead after a slow race, which posted 14 minutes 32 seconds at the half way mark.

Chemboi increased the pace and took the lead after 7000m, when he led another Kenyan Nicholas Kosimbei, Eritrea’s Aferweki Berhane and Mande in pursuit for the top slots.

Though Chemboi was ahead after the bell, Cheptegei stepped up the pace and with 350m to go, he had over taken Chemboi and raced solely to the finishing line.

“Starting slow and finishing fast is how I usually run. I didn't give up. I knew things would change during the race,” Cheptegei said on his first international medal.

“It was a good and mature race for him. He is a disciplined police officer and you could see his planning. The technical committee will now meet and see whether he will be able to double,” said Uganda Athletics Federation general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru.

Uganda is represented by four athletes at the biennial event with Stella Chesang and Philip Kipyeko due to run in the women and men 5000m respectively.

Cheptegei or Mande is expected to beef up Kipyeko’s bid for Uganda’s second medal.